My mother told me
'Fore she passed away
Said, son when I'm gone
Don't forget to pray

'Cause there'll be hard times
Hard times
Who knows better than I?

I soon found out
Just what she meant
When I had to pawn my clothes
Just to pay the rent

Talkin' 'bout hard times
Hard times, oh yeah
Who knows better than I?

Oh, I had a woman
Who was always around
When I lost my money
She put me down

Talkin' 'bout hard times
Hard times
Who knows better than I?
Yeah, one of these days
There'll be no more sorrow
When I pass away

Talkin' 'bout hard times
Hard times
Who knows better than I?
Yeah, who knows better than I?